Breast Augmentation

Honolulu, Hawaii – Breast Enhancement through Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation (Breast Enhancement)

At Athena Clinic in Honolulu, Hawaii, breast augmentation, or enhancement, surgery can improve the size and shape of the breasts with breast implants. There are many reasons why women in Honolulu, Hawaii may choose breast augmentation. Some choose implant surgery as a reconstructive technique following a mastectomy. Others hope to balance different sized breasts, and some simply hope to enhance the proportions of their bodies. Whatever their reasons, Dr. Peterson can help women to have larger, firmer breasts.

The Surgery

At the Athena Clinic in Hawaii, breast enhancement surgery begins with an incision. This incision can be placed on the underside of the breast, the armpit, around the nipple, or around the areola. Dr. Peterson places the implant through the incision, ensures that it is natural looking, and places sutures to close the incision.

After the Surgery

At the Athena Clinic in Hawaii, breast enhancement patients have their breasts wrapped in a supportive gauze bandage following surgery. They are fitted with a surgical bra that provides support for up to several weeks. Common side effects of breast augmentation include fatigue, soreness, and discomfort, though these conditions are often alleviated with the help of medication. Dr. Peterson removes stitches within seven to ten days, and the swelling normally subsides after about a month.

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

Q:

Do you generally place the implants above or below the muscle, and why?

A:

We generally place saline implants under the muscle to avoid rippling, and generally place silicone gel implants in front of the muscle. Placement under the muscle compresses and hides the upper portion of the implant, giving a more natural look, avoiding the round “coconut” look and helping to hide rippling of the implant. The muscle also compresses the implant and presses it away from the breastbone, so it is more difficult to get cleavage this way. When the implant is under the muscle, it is held down, so it is less able to fill out a breast that is sagging. If the implant is under the muscle, the breast can continue to sag down over the front of the muscle; if the implant is in front of the muscle then the scar tissue around the implant helps to suspend the breast and keep it from sagging.

Q:

What type and style of implants do you recommend at your practice & why? Smooth or Textured? Round or Anatomical? High Profile or Standard Profile? Other? Saline? Silicone?

A:

Because women have differing body types and different preferences, we use all of the different types. This is determined in consultation with Dr Peterson and your patient counselor.

Q:

With respect to implants, what is the “warranty policy” for the implants you use?

Would you “over-inflate” my implants? If so, by how much? What are the benefits of this, and what are potential problems associated with over-filling?

A:

We generally fill the implants to volumes within the manufacturer’s recommended fill range. As an example, one size has a recommended range from 300 to 330 cc, but is designated as a “300 cc implant”. Thus, filling to 330 cc, the top of this range is not actually “overfilling”, but exceeding 330 cc would be. Overfilling causes the implants to feel more stiff (imagine blowing up a balloon a bit more) and does not really decrease the amount of rippling.

Q:

Where would you make my incision, and how much of a scar should I expect to remain visible over time?

A:

Possible incision locations include periareolar (around the nipple), inframammary (in the fold beneath the breast), transaxillary (in the hollow of the armpit), and transumbilical (through the belly button). *NOTE – The transumbilical approach may void the replacement policy of some implant manufacturers.

Q:

What is the risk for decrease or absence of nipple sensation after surgery?

A:

The biggest risk factor for loss of sensation is having a large implant. The nerve that goes to the nipple comes from the side of the chest, between the ribs. It usually runs through breast tissue, and is not under stretch. When the implant is placed, the nerve has to go over and around the implant – the larger the implant the greater the “detour” and the greater the stretch on the nerve. Just as the nerve to your fingers can “go to sleep” when you bend your elbow, the nerve to the breast can “go to sleep” as it goes over the implant. Most times, it will actually grow longer and start working again, but sometimes the stretch is just too much, and the nipple area remains permanently numb. The best way to avoid this is to choose a smaller size implant. The location of the incision does not seem to make much difference, although the incision by the nipple may.

Q:

Can having breast augmentation affect my ability to breast-feed in the future? Is breast-feeding safe for women who have breast implants?

A:

Click to view.

Q:

What are additional considerations regarding mammograms and breast cancer detection for women with breast implants?

We encourage you to begin gentle short walks by the end of the first few days after surgery. A serious complication of any surgery is the development of blood clots in the legs as a result of inactivity. The risk of this is reduced by early movement. After two weeks you can begin more vigorous activity but you should not do any heavy lifting or vigorous jogging for at least a month. Sometimes there are exceptions to these rules. So if you have any special needs please ask your patient counselor.

Q:

How long does the procedure itself take?

A:

The procedure takes between 1.5-2 hours to perform.

Q:

How much do you charge for this procedure?

A:

An estimate on Breast Augmentation is between $5500 for saline implants and $7500 for Silicone.

Q:

Is that an all-inclusive price for everything? (It should include everything except medications, which will be your responsibility)

A:

Yes this in an all inclusive price for implants, surgeon, medications, pre-op and post-op visits. The only outside charge is for anesthesia and that is payable in cash on the day to them. We can estimate this cost for you in consultation.

Q:

How long before having surgery would I have to schedule with you?

A:

This really varies on the time of year but usually we can schedule your surgery within one month of consultation.

Q:

Are there any special instructions I should follow before and/or immediately after the surgery?

A:

Please follow the guidelines given to you by your patient counselor or nurse at the time of your appointments.